martes, 17 de abril de 2012

NOW, IT IS TIME TO REACH OUT A SOLUTION THAT PRESERVE THE JOBS AND HEALTH OF LA OROYA

The decision of the Doe Run Peru Board
of Creditors, taken on Thursday April 12 is the result of the irresponsible
behavior of the company, which presented a restructuring plan with unacceptable
conditions and was rejected. It should be clear that Doe Run and Renco’s
officials are the only responsible for the current situation.

Unlike previous years, it appears that
the Peruvian Executive authorities have understood that the company is not
willing to comply with Peruvian law and the commitments assumed. We hope that
this firm attitude is maintained until a final and comprehensive output is
reached to resolve the problems caused by Doe Run.

However, after the decision taken and
with this new scenario, several questions that must be resolved in the shortest
period of time remain. As it is known, the company has entered into a process
called “liquidacion en marcha”, aimed to preserve the unity of the business,
i.e. operations to continue and that workers retain their jobs. During a period
of approximately 6 months, there will be a liquidator to manage the company.
While it is important to ensure 100% of jobs, we must not forget that the
company has a significant debt to La Oroya, in terms of environmental and
public health.

And some questions that arise are: Who
will be the liquidator of the company? What will happen to the pending
construction of the sulfuric acid plant? What will ensure that the
environmental commitments will be fulfilled?

Surely the company will continue with
the international arbitration demand against the Peruvian State and stubbornly
continue to insist that all Peruvians should assume the many legal complaints
of the effects on the health of La Oroya because of their irresponsible
behavior.

Our authorities should not lose sight of
all these variables since is the only way to reach a comprehensive solution for
La Oroya, that preserves the health of its population and the jobs for the
workers of the metallurgical complex.

Under the current context, we call for all actors of La
Oroya to prioritize dialogue and avoid
any kind of confrontation, or acts of violence that prevent the free movement
of the population.